EADS Socata executives are hopeful that the proposed merger with French conglomerate Daher will bring the general aviation plane maker closer to developing its first all new aircraft in two decades. EADS and Daher announced in early July that the two companies had begun exclusive negotiations for Daher to take a majority interest in Socata. Those plans progressed last week when the Central Councils and Work Councils of Daher, EADS France and Socata each approved the acquisition.
(325: Cessna Aircraft last week kicked off its campaign to organize its sixth Citation Special Olympics Airlift with pilot and actor Harrison Ford as the honorary chairman. The company hopes that some 325 Citations will transport 2,000 athletes to the 2010 Special Olympics USA National Games July 17-24 in Lincoln, Neb. Citation owners volunteer their aircraft and crew for the airlift. Cessna organized the first airlift in 1987 with 130 Citations carrying nearly 1,000 athletes to the games in South Bend, Ind.
(30,811: The National Business Aviation Association’s 61st Annual Meeting & Convention in Orlando, Fla. had a “solid turnout” considering the challenging economy, NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen said. The 30,811 attendees this year represented a decline of 3.7 percent from the 2007 show, which drew some 32,000 attendees.
GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE officials have taken pains in recent years to characterize their supersonic flight studies as an R&D effort rather than an aircraft development program. But Pres Henne, the company’s senior vice president, programs, engineering and test, was more direct during a press conference last week at the NBAA convention in Orlando, Fla. Asked by a questioner, “What is the X54?,” Henne responded that Gulfstream has been working on a supersonic program “for a very long time,” adding that “someone” has to do a complete aircraft at some point in the future.
(200: AAI Acquisition, the company that bought the assets of the bankrupt Adam Aircraft in April with a $10 million bid, has grown the work force to 200 employees as it continues to work toward certification of the A700 Very Light Jet. The company in May had a team of 58 employees, most of whom were former Adam Aircraft workers. AAI has decided to keep the basic A700 design and engines, but is looking at a new avionics package, interior and a few other changes.
October 16-18 – Chevron Global Aviation Advanced Safety Training, Richmond, Calif. Contact Chevron Customer Service at (866) 557-3456 or e-mail to [email protected] October 20-22 – Airports Council International-North America Public Safety and Security Fall Conference, Ritz Carlton Pentagon City Hotel, Arlington, Va. For more information call (202) 293-8500 or go to www.aci-na.org/conferences
(22 Percent: North America comes in third in top markets for Boeing Business Jets. Boeing has sold 32 percent of BBJs and other VIP-configured Boeing aircraft in the Middle East and 24 percent in Europe. The company sold 21 new aircraft valued at $3 billion over the past year, increasing total sales to 182 BBJs and VIP derivatives. Sales continue to be brisk despite the long lead times. The next available delivery slots are in the 2014-2015 range for most of the Boeing products, with the exception of the 787.
Top executives of Aerion Corp. say wind tunnel test results for the company’s proposed supersonic business jet have been promising, but acknowledge they need to find an original equipment manufacturer partner by early next year to keep the program on schedule.
Testing is under way of an F-18 with a covered aft cockpit to help prove that a camera-equipped aircraft with no forward view windows could be a viable option for a future supersonic business jet.
THE SHARP DROP IN and volatility of worldwide stock market prices was clearly on the minds of attendees and exhibitors at last week’s National Business Aviation Association convention in Orlando, Fla. Most of the major business jet manufacturers emphasized that they are in much better shape to weather a business downturn now than they were during the last recession because most have much larger order backlogs.
HAWKER BEECHCRAFT Model 390 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-1067; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-052-AD; Amendment 39-15688; AD 2008-21-04] – This AD requires operators to the cabin barometric pressure switch and cabin altitude high switch installations and perform a functional test of the switches and related systems, following the instructions of Hawker Beechcraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 21-3899 (dated May 2008).
Hawker Beechcraft Corp. (HBC) announced the Hawker 450XP business jet, saying the 400XP successor “will receive the most comprehensive product upgrade in light jet history.”
JET AVIATION signed a memorandum of understanding with Vnukovo Invest to expand its operations at Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow. Jet Aviation will move into a 32,827-square-foot maintenance hangar, close to the Moscow Vnukovo-3 fixed-base operation. The new hangar will triple Jet Aviation’s maintenance and support space for OEM clients and local and transient customers. Jet Aviation currently operates from a 10,763-square-foot hangar at Vnukovo-3 where it provides line maintenance, support and AOG services.
RICHARD MCQUEEN was promoted to president and chief executive of Akron-Canton Airport in Ohio. McQueen succeeds Frederick Krum, who retired as airport director Sept. 30 after 32 years of service with the airport. McQueen, a 32-year veteran with the airport, most recently was assistant director. He joined the airport staff in 1982 as an accountant and was promoted to controller, then assistant director of finance and administration. He has managed the finances, accounting, contracts and government funding as well as personnel hiring and capital project administration.
VULCANAIR S.P.A. Model P68 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-1020; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-053-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to determine the safe fatigue limit of the wing structure using Vulcanair S.p.A. Service Bulletin No. 120 Rev. 1 (dated June 7, 2006). Operators would need to repetitively inspect the wing structure, the wing-to-fuselage attachments and the stabilator.
Hangar space for lease at the Van Nuys Airport. Maguire Aviation is in the process of developing 460,000 sq. ft. of hangar and offices for single and multiple tenant occupancy. Please contact Mike McDaniel or Tim Wray for more information at 800-451-7270. Click here to view the pdf
GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE named CORJET Europe in Madrid, Spain as a Gulfstream Authorized Warranty Repair Facility, providing services for the Gulfstream G550, G200, GV, GIV-SP and GIV aircraft. As a warranty repair facility, CORJET is authorized to provide detailed maintenance services, including scheduled maintenance checks and inspections. CORJET Europe is a joint venture between Spanish companies Iberia Group and Gestair Group.
FRASCA INTERNATIONAL won a contract from FAA to provide a Cessna Citation Mustang flight training device (FTD). The FTD will be qualified to FAA Level 5 standards and will replicate the Mustang flightdeck, including the Garmin G1000 avionics. The FTD also will include the Frasca TruVision Visual System with 220-degree display system, high fidelity sound, TruFeel electric control system, auto-test, Graphical Instructor Station and a debrief station. FAA will station the FTD at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City, Okla.
GENERAL AVIATION MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION was pleased last week that the Senate added an extension to the expired research and development tax credit to the $700 billion economic recovery/Wall Street bailout bill. The R&D credit expired in December, but the Senate measure would renew the credit through 2009. “General aviation manufacturers invest heavily in research and development in order to stay at the forefront of technological innovation,” GAMA said.
The addition of financially powerful Tata Group of India to the ownership group of Piaggio has increased speculation that the Italian aircraft manufacturer may now have access to the financial resources necessary to pursue development of a business jet.
Despite widespread economic concerns in recent months, Honeywell forecasters are anticipating a continuing boom in the business jet industry with sales from 2008 through 2018 expected to total approximately 17,000 new aircraft valued at $300 billion.
